Later this morning another full kiln will finish firing. Some time on Friday I’ll be able to check the results of two fun painting days here, and eleven new jugbirds and some plates of my own. The anticipation is always exciting.

As some of you will have gathered, our summer is rather low-key as my husband patiently waits for a date for open heart surgery. We can’t be too strenuous or travel far so we’re enjoying the garden and I’m able to spend more time in my studio. Because we’ve had a fair bit of rain the flowers have been spectacular.

Half a dozen TriCity potters joined me on Saturday July 16th. We had a happy day with Ysabella, Maria, Linda, June, Susan and Barbara painting tiles and plates with slips and underglazes and we shared a fine lunch.

June MacDonald brought two plates made with her own medium stoneware clay to try out my underglazes on them so I have only bisque-fired them. She’ll let me have a photo of them when they’re glazed with her cone 6 clear glaze.

A few days later, on Wednesday July 20th, five ‘Raiders’ came out for the day. I’ll post photos of that day in my next blog. We’ve generated so much work that I needed to do two bisque firings and now there will be a second glaze firing too so not all the Raiders’ work will be ready by this week-end. Sorry guys! Soon..

Apart from that we’ve enjoyed having family and a few friends over for gentle barbecue suppers, and have been hearing all about the big move. Son Steve, his wife Jennifer and their three little boys spent last weekend moving from their townhouse in Port Coquitlam to a very nice house in Pitt Meadows. Here is a photo of Jen with the twins, Bennett and Lucas.

Now it looks as if we’re in for a week or so of real summer weather. Julia, an English friend from a very long time ago, and Ron are travelling around North America for some months in their RV and have arrived here for a few days. So they’ll get to see what’s in my kiln too and can join me when I take pots in to Granville Island.